Lots of Shade on Satellite Constellations

Abstract

The high frequency of satellite launches, particularly over the last few years, has been a subject of significant concern, particularly relating to the future of observational astronomy, the stability of low Earth orbits, and environmental impacts. We call attention to the insufficiently-addressed silver lining of this looming satellite cloud. If the high rates of satellites continue as we model, we can expect the solar flux received by the Earth to significantly decrease in the relatively near future. We address how this decrease in flux could provide a solution for another major problem, anthropogenic climate change. This would allow us to solve one problem with another problem as early as late March 2031.